Breaking News Today – Monday 9th February 2026

Business News Today 

Indian Regulations and Tax Reforms Supporting Tech Start-Ups

The Indian government has updated its tech start-up framework, doubling the period for which deep tech companies are treated as startups to 20 years and raising the revenue threshold for startup-specific tax, grant, and regulatory benefits to about $33.12 million, from approximately $11.04 million previously. The change aims to align policy timelines with the long development cycles typical of science- and engineering-led businesses such as space exploration or autonomous driving solutions.The change also forms part of New Delhi’s effort to build a long-horizon deep tech ecosystem by combining regulatory reform with public capital, including around $11 billion Research, Development and Innovation Fund (RDI), announced last year. 

Open AI Users Push Back on Chat GPT4o Retirement

There has been widespread disdain on social media regarding OpenAI’s announcement last week that it will retire some older ChatGPT models by February 13. This will include GPT-4o, the model infamous for excessively flattering and affirming users. For thousands of users protesting the decision online, the retirement of 4o feels to them like losing a friend.

The backlash over GPT-4o’s retirement highlights a major challenge facing AI companies: The engagement features that keep users coming back can also create dangerous dependencies. Sam Altman however does not appear sympathetic to users concerns, and it’s not hard to understand why. OpenAI is currently facing eight lawsuits alleging that 4o’s overly validating responses contributed to suicides and mental health crises, ironically, the same traits that made users feel heard also isolated vulnerable individuals and, according to legal filings, sometimes encouraged self-harm.

Gold Demand Driving Price Recovery

Gold prices have rebounded from last week’s sell-off and has jumped by more than 1% toward $5,030 per ounce earlier today, the highest level in a week, supported by a weaker US dollar as traders look towards key US economic data releases this week that could offer clearer insights into the Federal Reserve’s interest rate outlook. The January jobs report, scheduled for Wednesday and expected to show signs of stabilisation in the labor market, as well as inflation data due on Friday, will be closely watched. San Francisco Fed President Mary Daly said last Friday that it may be necessary to cut rates once or twice to address weakening labor market conditions.

The second significant driver of the rebound, is China’s central bank that has extended its gold purchases for the 15th consecutive month in January, indicating sustained institutional demand. China has also increased its dollar holdings in January. On the geopolitical front, markets are keeping an eye on US-Iran talks, with both sides agreeing to continue discussions this week to ease tensions and avoid a military confrontation

Maser Group Announces Major AI Developments in Africa

Dubai-based consumer electronics manufacturer, the Maser Group, announced a major strategic pivot this past weekend when it committed $1.6 billion over the next 24 months to acquire farmland and develop AI-focused data centres across Africa. The investment targets Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya as primary focus countries, with exploratory public-private partnerships (PPPs) in Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Zambia, Rwanda, and others.Founder and Chairman Prateek Suri stated the move addresses two surging needs: Africa’s rising food import bill (food security) and explosive demand for data centre capacity driven by AI, cloud, and digital growth. The company has already deployed $300 million on land acquisitions (including reports of over 1,800 acres secured in earlier phases) and related asset-backed projects. The company said it is in discussions with Taiwanese AI groups who will partner with them to develop the tech infrastructure.

Crypto Purge Reset

Bitcoin prices have stabilised above $70,000 this morning (currently at $70944), after sharp decline and volatility at the end of last week. The price dive was driven by major financial and ETF funds liquidating Bitcoin positions and sentiment is now showing tentative improvement as US Bitcoin exchange-traded funds record significant inflows, with investors stepping in following the recent market decline. Still, traders remain cautious, with analysts noting that uncertainty persists over whether the worst is behind the market. Last week, Bitcoin wiped out all of its price gains since January 2025, plunging to $60,033, its lowest level since October 2024. Bitcoin is down -27% y-o-y and is almost -10% down in the last week. Other major crypto currencies such as Solana and Ether are also severely down year-on-year.

Breaking News Shorts:  

• China’s 10-year government bond yield fell to around 1.8% today, hitting its lowest level in two weeks, as the central bank boosted liquidity to ease seasonal funding pressures ahead of the Lunar New Year. The People’s Bank of China injected 600 billion yuan via 14-day repurchase agreements last week to help banks cover a temporary funding gap of roughly 3.2 trillion yuan,
• Platinum prices are staging a small recovery this morning with prices up by 0,62% above the $2110 level. Last Friday saw prices drop below the $1900 per ounce level briefly but did recover to close around the $2090 level on Friday. Platinum is up around 106% year-on-year.
• The South African rand strengthened to around R16 per USD, bouncing back from recent over two-week lows of 16.3, supported by the rebound in prices of key precious metals, particularly gold and platinum. The rand has experienced heightened volatility recently, driven by sharp swings in precious-metal prices
• Steel rebar futures fell below CNY 3,060 per ton, sliding to an eight-week low as Chinese steel mills curtailed operations ahead of the extended Lunar New Year holidays. The sector entered a seasonal shutdown, with both blast furnaces and electric-arc furnaces pausing for scheduled maintenance.
• Coffee Futures have dropped below $3.00 per pound – the lowest level in six-months (or since early August 2025). Coffee futures have dropped by over -17% in the last month and are down almost -32% in the last year. Coffee is currently trading at $2.94

Markets by Numbers 

Currency markets indicate the US dollar losing momentum, with the Greenback trading against the Euro at 1.8320 while trading against the Pound at 1.36116 to the US dollar. The Yen is currently trading at 156.66 to the dollar. The rand (ZAR) is currently trading at around R16.00 to the dollar and looks to be heading below that level.

Commodities:  

• Gold futures have rebounded today after a drop last week, up by around 1.2% this morning, and currently trading at around $5030.00 per ounce.  
• Copper prices are gaining upward momentum today, with prices currently around $58.935 per pound
• Silver futures have surged by over 4% today, and currently trading around $81.673 per ounce.
• Platinum futures have gained marginally this morning, and currently trading at $2100.00, While Palladium prices have fallen marginally this morning, and currently trading around $1740.50 per ounce.
• Brent crude oil prices are trending -1% lower today, and currently at $67.36 with WTI trading lower at $62.90
• Cocoa futures are around -1% lower today, and currently trading around $4153 per ton. 
• Coffee futures are currently trending lower today, and trading at around $2.94 per pound

Crypto Currencies: 

• Bitcoin prices are up by over 1.1% today, and trading at around $70997 per coin currently 
• Ether prices are up marginally today, and are currently trading around $2092.18
• $Trumpcoin are currently trading around $3.447

(All prices quoted at approximately 07H35 Central African Time) 

Africa News Briefs:

• South Africa has announced the withdrawal of its troops from a United Nations mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The office of the presidency said on Saturday that President Ramaphosa had informed the UN Secretary‑General, Antonio Guterres, of the decision. South Africa has supported the United Nations Organization Stabilisation Mission in the DRC for 27 years and has more than 700 soldiers deployed there. Last year saw multiple South African soldiers killed in the conflict and their participation has been marred with poor support and equipment supply.
• The Commission of the Economic and Monetary Community of Central Africa, has suspended its activities amid a severe financial crisis. The regional economic and integration organisation, said almost all projects and missions will pause pending an improvement in the collection of the Community Integration Tax. CEMAC groups together Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, and Equatorial Guinea.